Cape St. George - Newfoundland

varied scenery: ocean, secluded beaches, mountains, waterfalls
walking trails, some traditional, some recent, some cliffside
wildlife viewing, including a gannet colony
whale-watching, including Minke, fin whales and the occasional humpback
Ktaqmkuk Mi'kmaw Cultural Historical Museum on Main Street, St. George's
Our Lady of Mercy Museum at Port au Port West, adjoining the church

This region of Newfoundland-Labrador was discovered in 1497 by the Italian adventurer, Giovanni Caboto. He noted the presence of the Mi'kmaq tribes and named this coastal region Cape Saint George. Later Captain James Cook corroborated the existence of that settlement which was called Kwesowaak in the Mi'kmaq language.

Despite these records, the best-known documents have led to the assumption that the French were the first to settle there, in defiance of a British law against permanent settlement. The presumed French occupation of the area led to the belief that any descendants would be Acadians. In 2006, a number of aboriginal people identified themselves as the founding people of the area. It has taken a while to straighten things out.

Cape St. George sits at the most westerly point of the Port au Port peninsula, with views of the Atlantic in all its moods. Although the presence of a gannet colony is disputed by the Canadian Wildlife Service, local fishermen vigourously insist on its existence which is especially noticeable when the herring or mackerel are in large supply.